Cellphone Etiquette

A summary of the 10 most talked about cellphone annoyances 

by Rebecca Shafir

Interruption – in any form - is still the # 1 most annoying conversational behavior. 

1. Forgetting to turn off your cellphone indicates a sense of absent-mindedness. Just as you might straighten your tie or check yourself in a mirror be sure that the cellphone is off or on vibration mode prior to a meeting, worship service or seminar. 

2. If you are expecting an emergency call, let people know prior to the start of a meeting. We’ll be less jolted if we know it’s important. 

3. Maintain at least a 10 ft zone from anyone while talking. We don’t care to hear about your personal stuff. 

4. When you get a call and you’re with others – 30 seconds is the maximum.

5. Never multi-task by making calls while driving, banking, or conducting other business. Your shifting of concentration can be hazardous to your health and other drivers. Plus, your calls take up the time of others.

6. Do not feel you have to scream over the cellphone. Most people don’t realize that cellphones are actually more sensitive than regular phones. Speak in a lower than normal tone is enough. 

7. When you are at a restaurant, excuse yourself from the table to take the call. Don’t make everyone else at the table stop the conversation because of your call. If that’s not possible speak softly so that your table partners can resume their conversation while you take the call. 

8. Personalize your cellphone voice mail message like you would your home phone voice mail.

9. In professional situations avoid the casual tone of textspeak. Using single letters like “r” instead of writing out the word “are” can be considered disrespectful to prospective employers, new clients or customers. It can be a major turn-off to prospective employers as it represents impulsive hastiness and a lack of attention to detail. Many professional recruiters feel that emoticons (i.e. smiley faces) have no place in formal communication.

10. Sending a sincere, professional “thank you” message has more credibility if you’re sending it from your laptop rather than “From my Blackberry.” Notes of heartfelt appreciation should not be sent “on the fly.” A thank you note should be written like a proper letter. How a prospective employee communicates with you is a good predictor of how he/she will interact with customers.